Jenuflecting

One of the most significant things to have come out of the past decade of our lives spent navigating our respective divorces, coming together amongst connections and conflicts, incorporating our children, Linda's illness and passing, making a moving choice, getting my kids through that and off to college, losses of jobs, all of this… has been my intense awareness of how strong our relationship is. How grateful and committed to this that I am. And how significant her presence has been for all of us.

I recently bought and gave her a book, not as a gift, but as a way of highlighting this perspective. The book is titled "When Lovers Are Friends." I first read it back in the very late 70's or early 80's. It was an introduction to the idea that a healthy relationship should be less about what you want, and more about what you want for the other person. Mutually and independently championing each others growth and aspirations.

I admittedly talked a better talk than I did when it comes to walking the walk. I fumbled and bumbled my way thru my fair share of relationships, some sincere and others motivated far more by want, need or obligation than by a search for the level of sincerity and honesty I find myself experiencing now.

Jen once said, well before things between us reached the level they have, "what you see is what you get". I saw assets and flaws as clearly as she saw my own, neither of which matter when acceptance is unconditional.

I can't believe how we got here any more than I can believe that we are. I reflect daily on my good fortune, fate, destiny or luck. I want for nothing other than our health and time to both be abundant.